Margate rounded of their 2025/26 campaign with a comfortable 3-1 away win at basement side East Grinstead Town on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Ben Greenhalgh handed defender Harrison Hatfull his 200th Margate appearance, whilst Henry Young returned to the starting XI.
With the hosts already relegated after a nightmare season, the large travelling Margate support were expecting three points on the road, which would have made it just one defeat in their last 16 away games.
Margate made a quick start with Hatfull swinging a delightful ball into the box which was headed onto the bar by Ibrahim Olutade after just two minutes. A minute later and Margate had their lead in the 3rd minute as Olutade was set free and he kept his composure to stroke the ‘Gate ahead.
Margate weren’t going to have it all their own way though as the hosts forced Dino Kaiser into a 5th minute save as the game swung from end to end in a frantic start.
Four minutes later though Margate had all but secured the three points as Greenhalgh cut in from the right before firing the Blues into a two goal advantage.
Kane Haysman saw some nice link up play with Sam Blackman end with his shot going narrowly wide, before a header from Haysman via a cross from Young went inches wide as Margate looked to increase their advantage even further in the opening 15 minutes.
With just twenty minutes on the clock, the third goal of the afternoon was registered as the hosts reduced the deficit with a fine goal. A corner was initially cleared but only as far to Gayler who fired home from 25-yards out.
The hosts seemed to have found some extra energy as a deep cross from the wing clipped the top of Kaiser’s bar as East Grinstead almost found themselves level.
Both sides fired shots goalwards in the last five minutes of the opening 45 minutes, however the scoreline was to remain 2-1 to the ‘Gate at the break.
Sam Blackman saw the first chance of the second half headed just wide, before Margate saw a trademark Greenhalgh free-kick cleared off the line, but only to Emmanuel Oke who saw his effort smack the crossbar as Margate missed another chance to extend their lead.
Greenhalgh introduced Louie Atkins shortly after and he was straight into the thick of it as he saw a header cleared off the line to deny him a second goal in consecutive games.
He wasn’t to be denied for long though as the Blues were awarded a penalty with ten minutes remaining. The striker after a long run up sent the home keeper the wrong way and made it 3-1 to the Blues.
In the 90th minute, Greenhalgh was replaced by Lewis Knight who was to make his 150th appearance for the Blues as they closed out the game and the season to record a professional 3-1 win and end the season with nine wins from their final ten league games.
Margate XI: Kaiser, Hatfull (Walters 60’), Oke, Young (Hoxha 77’), Hudson, Blackman (Nkwocha 77’), Olutade, Greenhalgh (Knight 90’), Davey, Haysman (Atkins 60’), Garande
Margate Goalscorer’s
Ibrahim Olutade 2’
Ben Greenhalgh 9’
Louie Atkins 80’(P)
Attendance
305
